Dorset culture

Dorset culture appears on the timeline as a people or culture of Arctic and Greenland (North America) from c. 500 BCE to 1300 CE, a span of 1,799 years. Its people spoke Eskimo-Aleut languages (Inuit, Yupik, Aleut, Thule, Dorset (Paleo-Eskimo)).

The Tuniit of Inuit legend, who lived across the eastern Arctic, carved small ivory and soapstone figures and built snow houses. They disappeared soon after the Thule arrived from Alaska.

See Dorset culture on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 500 BCE to 1300 CE
Duration: 1,799 years
Type: People or culture
Region: Arctic and Greenland, North America
Language family: Eskimo-Aleut

Came from

Pre-Dorset c. 2500 to 500 BCE

Events in North America during its time

100 Hopewell exchange network at its height
985 Erik the Red settles Greenland
1000 Norse reach Vinland
1050 Cahokia grows into a city
1276 The Great Drought

Neighbours in North America

Norse Greenland c. 985 to 1450 CE
Vinland (L'Anse aux Meadows) c. 1000 to 1020 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America

Questions

When did Dorset culture exist?

c. 500 BCE to 1300 CE, about 1,799 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Dorset culture?

Arctic and Greenland, in North America.

What language did Dorset culture speak?

Eskimo-Aleut. This family includes Inuit, Yupik, Aleut, Thule, Dorset (Paleo-Eskimo).

What came before Dorset culture?

Pre-Dorset.